Cotton-picker.



B. JOHNSON.

COTTON HCKER APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12. I916.

magma. Patented Jan. 8,1918.

J A E J@%zwmz VVHnesses 7 Inventor by v 1; I WXW.

BILLIE JOHNSON, or TEMPLE, TEXAS.

COTTON-PIGKEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 8, 1918.

Original application filed April 24, 1916, Serial .No. 93,189. Divided and this application filed October 12, 1916. Serial No. 125,246.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, BILLIE JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Temple, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, -have invented a new and useful Cotton-Picker, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton picking needles particularly designed for use in connection with machines for harvesting cotton, the same being a division of an application filed April 24, 1916, Serial No. 93,189.

One of the objects of the invention is to I provide a picking needle of novel form which is so constructed that it will only engage the cotton fiber, with the result that the cotton delivered into the machine will be in a clean condition and practically free of leaves,twigs and the like. v

A further object is to provide a needle capable of longitudinal movement for the purpose of thrusting it into the plant and subsequently stripping cotton from the needle.

With the foregoing and otherobjects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and .in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of two of the picking needles and portions of their operating means.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the picking needles.

Fig. 3 is another elevation of the needle turned'through- 90 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the needle turned through 90 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 39 designates a cross head mounted for reciprocation, any suitable means, not shown, being provided for actuating this cross head. J ournaled in a support 28 are superposed bearings 41 and a gear 42 is arranged adjacent each bearing and secured to a tubular guide 43. These guides are parallel and extend through bearings 41 and inwardly through bearings 44 carried by a support 45. Each of the guides 43 has longitudinal slots 46 in opposite portions and those portions of the guides extending through and inwardly beyond the bearings 44 are preferably reduced in diameter, thus to form tubular stripping fingers 47. The

"free ends of these stripping fingers are rounded, as shown at 48 and working within these free ends are needles 49. Each needle projects from a cylindrical slide 50 housed in the guide 43 and projecting from each The outer or free end of each needle 49 is rounded as shown at 54 and arranged spirally about the needle are elongated depressions 55 which gradually increase in depth away from the free end of the needle and terminate in overhanging shoulders 56 which are cut away diagonally to form teeth which are extended obliquely to the plane of rotation of the tooth and also to the longitudinal axis of movement of the needle. In other words the teeth, which are contained within the bounds of the circumference of the needle are so shaped that they will wipe past any material, fibrous or otherwise, with which they may contact while rotating, unless, at the same time, the needle is pressed outwardly away from the stripping finger in which event the points of the teeth will be buried into any fibrous material with which they may come into contact, resulting in the fibrous material being wound upon the needle. However, should the needle be projected longitudinally without being rotated, the point of the tooth being contained within the circumference of the needle, it would not engage any fibrous material but would Wipe past it.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. A cotton picking needle comprising a tubular stripping portion having an end opening and a cylindrical spindle portion mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in theopening and having a rounded free end and a spirally arranged series of separate segmental recesses, each recess gradually increasing in depth away from the free end of the spindle and there being a tooth formed by that end wall of the recess remote from the end of the spindle.

A cotton picking needle comprising a tubular stripping portion having an end opening and a cylindrical spindle portion mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in the opening and having a rounded free end and a spirally arranged series of separate segmental recesses, each recess gradually increasing in depth away from the free end of the spindle and there being a tooth formed by that end Wall of the recess remote from the end of the spindle, said tooth having its point adjacent one sideof the recess and overhanging the recess.

3. A cotton picking needle comprising a tubular stripping portion having an end opening and a cylindrical spindle portion mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in the opening and having a rounded free end and. a spirally arranged series of separate segmental recesses, each recess gradually increasing in depth away from the free end of the spindle and there being a tooth formed by that end Wall of the recess remote from the end of the spindle, said tooth having its point adjacent one side ofthe recess and overhanging the recess, one side face of the tooth being obliquely disposed.

In testimony that I' claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

BILLIE JOHNSON.

l/Vitnesses LEON BANACH,

CHAS. EICHHORST. 

